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• 1 media/Sutherland_DC_1497_outside0017.jpg 2024-04-23T13:08:10-07:00 F. Theresa Chisholm Shakespeare Volume (the famous First Folio) 14 plain 2024-05-26T06:55:34-07:00 William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, commonly known as the First Folio, is a collection of the plays that were written by William Shakespeare. It was originally published in 1623, about seven years after Shakespeare's death, and is considered one of the most influential books ever published. This collection of plays is a testament to Shakespeare's genius and literary prowess and includes some of the greatest works of English literature.
  
  Shakespeare's works are still widely celebrated and studied today, and for good reason. He invented a multitude of words and phrases that are still in common use, and he created fantastic stories for generations to come. The First Folio includes many of his most famous plays, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer's Night's Dream, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, and The Tempest. As suggested by the title, the plays in the First Folio are arranged into three categories: comedies, histories, and tragedies.
  Saint Mary’s Rare Book Room holds a lithographic reproduction of The First Folio that was published by Day and Son, Lithographers, in 1866. Lithography is a printing process that involves creating an image of the content to be printed on a plate, which is then covered in ink and used for printing. Alois Senefelder discovered this type of printing in 1798, and, soon after Senefelder's discovery, lithography became popular among many artists in France during the mid-1800s. 
  
  Lithography allowed for the creation of high-quality reproductions of early editions of Shakespeare's plays, which helped to spread his works and influence beyond England. Additionally, lithography allowed for the addition of beautiful and intricate illustrations alongside the text, further enhancing the plays' visual appeal. Overall, the First Folio is a remarkable piece of literary history and a testament to William Shakespeare's enduring influence and importance for future generations.
  Saint Mary's lithographic reproduction of William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies is dedicated to F. Theresa Chisholm (d. 1943). Chisholm was an instructor in speech and drama at Saint Mary's College and the Achievement Award in Performing Arts was established in her name in the department due to her teaching skills, artistic interpretation, and devotion to her students. She laid the foundation for the growth and recognition of Saint Mary's excellence in Communication and Theatre studies. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1943 and is interred in St. Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.
• 1 media/Cheek_Item0196.jpg 2024-05-05T16:33:07-07:00 Cheek, The Growth and Importance of Literature 4 plain 2024-05-05T16:36:20-07:00 Cheek, The growth and importance of literature 
  
  Within the rare book room, I was instantly captivated by the literature section, including Shakespeare, British writers, etc. This initial fascination drew me to continue researching all the fascinating books we had to do with literature and English. I was introduced to exciting books such as Syr Percyvelle of Gales. I also continued my research into one of the greatest writers, Shakespeare (in my opinion). I spent lots of time looking at the works we had within the realm of his work. I was instantly tranced. For me, the rare book room made a significant impact on me. I got to explore more of what I'm passionate about, and my focus is literature within my studies. This deep dive into old literature excited me and made me more interested in English and how writing developed. This passion grew into how books are made, writing styles, and printing through the years.
  Working within the rare book room made me realize how far book-making and writing have come through the centuries. 
  
  Working in the rare book room was not without its challenges. While most items were correctly categorized, I did encounter difficulties with the numbering system. The room was a treasure trove of intriguing works, each deserving of in-depth research, but time was a constraint. The allure of the rare book room was such that it was hard to tear myself away. Selecting just two books for this project was a daunting task, but I persevered and chose the most significant ones. 
  
  From the extensive collection in the rare book room, I meticulously chose two books that I believed were vital to literature and held the most significance. These were Syr Percyvelle of Gales and F. Theresa Chisholm's Shakespeare Volumes (The famous First Folio). Each book possessed unique qualities that set it apart from the rest, making it the perfect representative of literature.
  These two books stood out to me as soon as I saw them. Syr Percyvelle of Gales has an interesting back story about how it came to be. I loved researching this magnificent and detailed book. It made me appreciate restoring history more than I had before. Secondly, I chose the famous First Folio because Shakespeare is a fantastic writer, and the lithographing is very detailed in the book. This book also healed the history of Saint Mary’s. It was awarded to a professor here, making this book even more unique. 
  
  I hope the viewer of this project sees the importance of the literature I chose. The two works I have chosen are unique in their own ways and contribute to the world of literature in different ways. One encapsulates old manuscripts and medieval writing, and the other shows the works of a legendary playwright with a different form of printing that helped spread Shakespeare's amazing Works. 
  
  Laynie Cheek, Double major: English/ Secondary Education, Graduation Year: 2027